question

[scottv1025]

i all ways wondered . what is macro or cheato . i been hearing about this for 7 months (since i've had saltwater tank) please some one help me

 

[newfish]

i don't know much about it just that everyone says you should have it in your fuge

 

[delta]

it is a macro algea kept in a remote tank in order to remove additional nutrients (nitrates\phosphates) from your system.

 

[scottv1025]

oh ok . alright here is another question . i have a sump with live rock in the sump but i have no light . is that ok . is it died now ? do i have to do anything else?

 

[NateHanson]

Live rock left in the sump without light will continue to be effective at filtering ammonia, nitrites and nitrates out of the water, just as it would in the display tank.

Macroalgaes (chaetomorpha is the most popular type) need to be kept with a decent amount of light, and they will absorb nitrates and phosphates from the water as they grow. Occasionally you can prune them back and throw out the excess to remove the incorporated wastes.

Nate

 

[scottv1025]

when u mean decent amount of light . how much is that

 

[RichConley]

a lot of people seem to use the 65w Lights of America PC fixtures for growing chaeto. I think any powercompacts should work, and you might be able to get by with Normal Output fluoros in a shallow tank ,but dont quote me on that.

 

[NateHanson]

when u mean decent amount of light . how much is that

Some people use MH over their refugia, and I used a 65W power compact spotlight (the LOA fixture from HD) over my ~20g fuge. I'd say my lighting was minimally sufficient.

 

[RichConley]

Some people use MH over their refugia, and I used a 65W power compact spotlight (the LOA fixture from HD) over my ~20g fuge. I'd say my lighting was minimally sufficient.

REally Nate?

I've got the LOA fixture over a 20H for my fuge (oonly the left half of which is fuge) and its grown from about a softball size chunk to filling the entire half of the tank in a week and a half.